Salomon Rondon of West Bromwich Albion celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round Replay match between Bristol City and West Bromwich Albion at Ashton Gate (Image: Michael Steele)

Firm pitch, trampoline bounce, two teams more dogged than Crufts and all the purist principles Tony Pulis could muster.

On paper, it had the makings of a tight contest with chances at a premium – but some famines are not even worth the paper wasted in predicting them.

In the West Country deep freeze, only good senses of humour prospered, and the award for black comedy went to travelling missionaries from the Black Country margins.

When Chris Brunt retired hurt after 17 minutes, to be replaced by a rare sighting of Sebastien Pocognoli, Baggies fans seized the importance of the moment impressively.

(Image: Michael Steele)

Manager Pulis has picked specialist full-backs sparingly in his 12 months at the Hawthorns, and the mood was suitably festive.

“We’ve got a full-back on the pitch,” roared the Midlands ensemble.

Like most of West Brom’s passes, the joke went straight over managerless Bristol City’s heads.

In fairness, there was nothing wrong with Albion’s application at Ashton Gate.

It took them 51 minutes to make it count, Venezuelan record-signing Salomon Rondon meeting Craig Dawson’s perfect cross with a textbook chest-trap and cool finish past 19-year-old keeper Max O’Leary.

West Brom had wasted the best chance of a sterile first half, Gareth McAuley heading over from five yards when Craig Gardner’s miscued volley bounced invitingly into his airspace.

(Image: Michael Steele)

The Robins, who called time on Steve Cotterill’s reign as manager last week, had their moments, Wes Burns firing just wide from Bobby Reid’s pass and the enterprising Luke Freeman curling a free-kick narrowly off-target.